I was told a prong on my ring needs re-tipped. What does that mean?

With regular wear and tear, over time even the most well cared for pieces will need some maintenance. Prong repair or re-tipping is a normal maintenance repair that helps secure the stones in your ring. Prongs are the metal pieces that hold a stone securely in place.

 The top of prongs normally wear away as a ring ages; however, it is important to re-tip worn prongs as soon as possible to avoid the loss of the stone they hold. Re-tipping simply means the jeweler adds gold to the top of the worn prong and reshapes the metal. This enables the prong to securely support the stone again. With regular cleaning and checking by a professional, worn-looking prongs can be easily identified, mended and stone loss can be avoided.  
Pro Tip:  Bring your ring in to Vincent & Company as often as you'd like to receive a complimentary ring checkup and cleaning.